She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 542 - 540: Why That Position

Chapter 542: Chapter 540: Why That Position

Jinrong glared at Hu Jing for a while, decided not to discuss these matters with Hu Jing any further. What Hu Jing spoke of concerned the future, and they wouldn’t believe it until they reached that point. His affection for Ye Zi was different from that of others.

Now, what troubled him was not knowing how to deal with the pressures from the Imperial Father and Royal Mother, as well as Duke An’s refusal.

Hu Jing saw that Jinrong seemed to be no longer interested in dwelling on these issues, but with the knot in his heart still unloosened, not giving up on Miss Ye was detrimental to the great cause.

"At the court dispersal today, did Duke An say anything to Your Highness?" Hu Jing brought up the subject again.

Jinrong thought for a moment before speaking again, "I asked Duke An what his plans were for Miss Ye’s marriage. Duke An said that it’s all up to Ye Zi’s wishes, and he also said that given Ye Zi’s current situation, she could not marry into the Aristocratic Clans." The royal family is the largest Aristocratic Clan in the entire world.

Hu Jing nodded, "Duke An is right. To ascend to that supreme position, how could it be so simple? There is much to give up and lose." On this matter, Hu Jing really had no solutions.

He advised, "Sixth Master, to know it’s impossible and still pursue it is unwise. It would be best for Sixth Master to give up on the matter of Miss Ye."

Jinrong’s face darkened instantly as he glared at Hu Jing.

Clamping his molars together and enduring Jinrong’s oppressive mood, Hu Jing continued, "You must give an explanation to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. Someone like Miss Ye would never agree to be Your Highness’s concubine or side wife. You are the person destined to ascend to the throne; your Principal Wife will be the Mother of the Nation, representing the face of the royal family, and must display motherly virtues to the entire world."

Jinrong asked coldly, "What is it? Are you saying that with Ye Zi’s character and talents, she is unfit to be the Mother of the Nation?"

"Sixth Master," Hu Jing sighed, "Miss Ye is not only a widow, but there’s also the incident from Duke An’s longevity feast, a matter that is practically known by everyone."

"What about the longevity feast..." Jinrong started to say, then remembered Duke An’s sixtieth birthday celebration.

That feast was probably the most sensational one in over a century. Not because of the number of people wishing longevity, nor because of the grandness of the feast, but because the birthday luminary’s granddaughter was entangled, disheveled, with a nearly naked man, seen by almost every respectable person in the capital.

Even now, when someone holds a longevity feast, people would discreetly bring up that scandalous scene from Duke An’s grand celebration.

Jinrong’s face turned grim.

Hu Jing lamented, "That’s only because Duke An is strong enough and Miss Ye capable enough, with a temperament unlike other sheltered young ladies. Otherwise, just the spittle of others would have obliterated her path in life. Any man who marries Miss Ye must be prepared to be ridiculed by the world. Not to mention that the most exalted position among all the women in the world attracts attention, and the criticisms are even more numerous.

Now, although there are many who wish to marry Miss Ye, most are drawn by her talents. Men, intending to sacrifice for their clan or to advance their own status and position, are willing to marry Miss Ye."

"How dare they?!" Jinrong nearly smashed the cup in his hand to the floor.

Hu Jing said, "At the beginning of the year, Shen Yong had a bit to drink, and Bai Jingtang and Xiao Cheng were cunning enough to wheedle his true thoughts. In fact, even if he said nothing, who, with clear eyes, couldn’t see his intentions for seeking to marry Miss Ye? Didn’t Sixth Master understand this and still arranged for someone to meet with Shen Yong?"

Jinrong was silent for a long time before he said, "I thought you respected Ye Xinyan."

"Of course, I respect Miss Ye, and not just me—everyone who has worked with her holds her in high regard. However, that does not mean Miss Ye is an ideal choice for a daughter-in-law. How many people in the world can work with Miss Ye? And how many are willing to overlook her past without holding it against her?

I just asked Sixth Master when and why he began to aspire to that supreme position? Is it really worth abandoning the great enterprise that you have been plotting for so long just to enjoy family affection? Is it worth giving up on those who have followed you?"

Jinrong’s gaze flickered for a moment, and he turned his eyes to the window frames illuminated by the winter sunshine.

As a child, he was mischievous, and with the Royal Mother being favored, he seldom adhered to the rules, nor did those around him, who flattered her thanks to the Imperial Father’s favoritism, seek to restrain him.

At the age of five, while accompanying the Royal Mother on a visit to Qianning Palace to meet the Empress, he grew bored playing with the Eunuchs in the courtyard and ran inside to look for the Royal Mother. It just so happened that day, as he ran too hastily into the room, he collided with the Crown Prince, who had just stood up, causing him to stagger.

The Crown Prince was twelve years older than him and was already presiding over court affairs. The Crown Prince was in a bad mood that day, and as he was steadying himself with the help of the Eunuchs, he suddenly kicked Jinrong to the ground in anger. Unsatisfied, he pointed at Jinrong with a furious face and commanded the Eunuchs to punish him.

The Royal Mother rushed forward to help Jinrong, shielding him while repeatedly apologizing to the Crown Prince.

The Eunuchs hesitated to act, seeing the Emperor’s Favored Consort ahead. The Crown Prince, furious, grabbed a cup of tea presented by a palace maid and splashed it on the Royal Mother’s face.

Despite many years having passed, Jinrong still remembered that scene to this day. The Royal Mother was already the target of envy for being favored. Seeing someone belittling the Royal Mother, especially within Qianning Palace, many Concubines laughed out loud without restraint.

The Empress looked down at the scene with a face full of mockery, not stopping the Crown Prince but instead reprimanding the Royal Mother.

The Royal Mother’s face was scalded red by the hot tea, but she dared not speak out or wipe her face. Kneeling on the ground with tea stains and soggy tea leaves on her head and face, she listened to the Empress scolding her.

The Empress’s reason for scolding was simply that the Crown Prince was the Crown Prince of the nation, the future heir to the throne, whose status was supremely honorable and could not be bumped into by anyone.

And sitting in Qianning Palace that day were several Concubines, all looking at the kneeling mother and son with visible schadenfreude on their faces.

Although the Imperial Father doted on the Royal Mother, he did not show favoritism towards her regarding the Crown Prince. The Royal Mother and he were grounded by the Empress for three months, during which a beautiful Selected Attendant emerged and caught the Imperial Father’s eye.

Consort Liang, once favored by the Emperor for over six years, gradually became silent, fading from the envious sight of the other Concubines, and, like all the women of the harem, began the passive cycle of longing for the Emperor’s visit, hoping he would whimsically recall any one of them someday.

During that episode, Jinrong not only witnessed his Royal Mother’s humiliation but also saw the beginning of her fall from grace and realized that his days of wanton behavior were over. No longer did people flatter him with servitude or indulge his every whim.

The Royal Mother probably had some sense of her fate, given she had been favored for six or seven years and was no longer a novelty. Therefore, during those seemingly long but actually brief three months of confinement, she experienced anxiety, anticipation, disappointment, and ultimately settled into quietude.